Truing-stand



C. S. ASH.

vTRUING STAND.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.1o, 191s.

Patented Sept. 2,1, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

BY M c. s. ASH.

TRUING STAND.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l0. I9I8.

Patented Sept. 21, 1920. 3 SHEETS-SHAET 2.

IN VEN TUI? exact description,

skilled in the art to which it'appertains to.

CHARLES s. Asn; oF-GENEVA, NEW Your.

mums-STAND.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea August 1o, 191s. serial 1ro. 249,281.

To all whom t may concern Be" it known thatI, CHARLES S. Asn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneva, in the'county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certainA new and useful improvements in Truing-Stands, of which the following is afull, clear, and such as will enable others make. and use the same.

This invention relates to improved appa- ,ratus for use in the manufacture of wire spoked vehicle wheels and is directed more particularly to an improved device whereby the. hubs and rims of such wheels may be expeditiously assembled and held while the series of interconnecting spokes are attached therebetween. i

One of the objects of the invention is to provide simple, reliable and efficient apparatus for the lpurpose mentioned which is easy to operate and not likely to get out of order.

It is another object to provide a functionally advantageous and structurally desirable devicewhereby the hubs and rims of such wheels, or other suitable elements, may be accurately positioned and held inrconcentric relation during further operation thereon in course of manufacture -or repair.

Y Certain of the additional objects and advantages will be in part mentioned hereinafter in connection with the following description of the accomp-anying drawings, which illustrate typical embodiments-of the invention, and in which- 1 Figure 1 is a side view, half in elevation and half in cross section, of the improved apparatus (with certainparts omitted);

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line X-X of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view 'of one-half. of a table element in the device;

Fig. is a half sectional view of parts shown in Fig. 1, butenlarged; and.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modified form of device.

It has heretofore been customary, in the manufacture of wire spoked wheels, to assemble the hub shelland tire-carrying rim in only approximately concentric relationship and then to lace lthe spokes therebetween and tighten the same by a power driven turning tool, in the nature of a screwdriver, Which is applied to the ni ples seating in the rim and screwing on t e spokes.

^ guideways In s uch practice the screw-driver may have a slip drive' connection whereby the tensioning of various spokes is automatically rendered' approximately uniform. Assembly in this manner, however, has required a subsequent operation of truing, in whichthe rims are further tested for concentricity with respect to the .hub and additionalo labor expended in manually adjusting the spoke Patented Sept. 21, 1920.

nipples around the circumference of the rim to effectmore exact uniformity of tension and also accurate centering of the hub.

The present invention comprises, in general, apparatus whereby the'hub shells and rims may be initially positioned in true concentric and lateral relationship and firmly maintained so during the operation of intercoimectingI the spokes therebetween.l By the use of such Iapparatus, manufacture is expedited and the cost decreased, since the subsequent truingx step becomes a matter rather of precautionary inspection than of actual manufacturing necessity with attendant time'and labor expense.

Referring more specifically tothe drawings, there is shown iii Fig. 1 apparatus including a pedestal 1, a rotatable table 2 'ournaled thereon and having a plurality of radially disposed and symmetrically arranged clamping jaws 3 adapted to grip the wheel rim about its outer periphery, and a central spindle or axial support 4 journalwd in the pedestal and having means releasably to grip a hub shell concentric with respect to the rim.

The table 2 is built up of several parts, between certain of which there is relative movement for purposes to be described, and includes a circular body plate 5 having a plurality (in this instance eighteen) of symmetrically arranged radial slots or guideways 6 and having a circular groove or channel 7 in its bottom face. An annular member 8 is provided to fit within the channel 7 and on its upper face has'relatively large spiral threads 9 projecting into the 6. Plate 5 and disk 8 are carried on a supporting plate 10 rigidly secured to the former by bolts 11 and'rotatably supporting the latter by an underhanging-portion 12 which fits in channel 7 against the lower andinner surface of the member 8.

The clamp-ing jaws 3, for convenience of Above Hrespect to the plate 5 and the clamping jaws proper, 3, secured to the elements 13 by countersunk screw bolts 14. The members 13 arefurther provided with spiral threads 9 complementary to and fitting in the spiral threads 9 of disk 8.

The table as a whole is rotatably mounted on a tubular extension 15 of the pedestal 1. For this purpose the extension 15, inter-v mediate itslength, is provided with a tapered portion 16 having an outer conical bearing surface to receive a complementary bearing surface 17 of supporting plate 10. the surface 17 mentioned, plate 10 is also provided with a reversely tapered bearing surface 18, and a holding collar 19 is threaded interiorly to screw on the upper threaded end of pedestal member 15 and is provided at its lower end with a tapered bearing surface complementary to and adapted to rest against bearing surface 18. One

or more retaining nuts .20 thread on the ex tension 15 to hold the collar 19 agalnst turning.

By the construction thus described, the en# tire table 2is rotatable on the center pedestal, and the bearing surfaces thereof are such that any slight wear thereon incident to use is compensated by relative vertical movement without disturbing the true concentric relationship of the parts.

lVithin the pedestal extension `15, and also rotatably supported thereby, is arranged the Spindle 4. For this purpose the latter is provided at its lower end with a head 21 which may support a bearing element 22 in turn seating shoulder on the inside of the tapered portion 16, while intermediate its ends the spindle is provided with threads 23 on which one or more retaining nuts 24 screw and abut friction washers 25 disposed in a shouldered recess 26 at the upper end of the member 15. The spindle 4 immediately above the threads 23 is contracted in diameter to afford a shoulder 27.

In use, the table 2 is designed to receive a wheel rim (indicated at 28 in dotted lines on Fig. 1) and to hold the same securely clamped by the jaws 3 in centeredl or axially alined relationship to the spindle 4. The spindle in turn is designed to carry a wheel hub (indicatedin dotted lines in Fig. l), and for this purpose a lower hub-holding element or collar 30 lits over spindle 4 and abuts shoulder 27. Upon positioning of the hub 29 thereover an upper hub collar 31 also lits on the spindle and, by means -of a removable tapered key 32 fitting through a slot in the spindle, the hub collars 30 and 31 may be driven together to firmly clamp the hub 29 therebetween in true concentric relation with the spindle and therefore with the rim 28. Due to the capability of free rotation of the spindle 4 and to the indeagainst a complementary that this particular endent rotation of the table 2, it will'thus Ee noted that the rim 28 and hub 29 may be quickly assembled on the device in concentric relation, and in horizontal planes as desired to effect the requisite degree of offset' ting of the hub when the spokes are laced between the wheel parts. To facilitate mounting the rims 28, the plate 8 is pro-4 vided at its rim with a handle 33 whereby, when body plate 5 is held against rotation, forvexample by manually gripping one of the jaws 3, the plate 8 may be rotated, and, due to the spiral threads 9 and 9', jaws 3 are all moved in or out synchronousl to grip or release the rim'. When gripped, t e whole 30 table 2 and the rim are free to rotate to'- gether on the bearings 17I and 18 as described.

. Since'it is most important to insure concentricity of the hub and rim when assembled, the construction of bearings for the plate 10 and the spindle 4, as described, is particularly advantageous in that relative Wear thereof may be easily taken up in a vertical direction without disturbing the 90 'alined relationship of all of the parts carried on the pedestal.

The various bearings are, of course, ar vranged for lubrication, and in the devices shown this is accomplished by means of an oil well 34 in the side of collar 19 to receive oil through a passage 35 drilled in plate 5. Likewise the recess 26 inthe upper end of element 15 may be sufficiently large to provide an oil channel above thefriction washers 25.

The pedestal 1, in the embodiment shown, is threaded on a taper at its upper end to re' ceive the threads of extension 15 and a locking ring 36.v It will be understood, however, assembly is preferred for reasons of manufacturing economy and convenience and that other structures would be possible within the scope Certain of these have been omitted from F ig.

1 for clearness of illustration.

In Fig. 5 a somewhat modified embodiment of the invention is illustrated, having, however, the same general construction and operation. In this instance, however, the table 2 is mounted to rotate on ball, or other friction reducing, bearings 37 positioned between a 4shoulder 38 on member 15 and a shoulder 39 on plate 10. Further, in this modification, the pedestal extension l5 is 125 internally threaded at itsA upper end to receive an externally threaded tubular element 40 having at its lower end a conicalior tapered bearing 41 against which lits the head 21 ofthe spindle 4. Member 40, in this in- 130 ofthe invention, in which the concentricassembly and rela- 110 stance, is provided with a recess 42 at its upper end to receive the friction washers 25 and retaining nuts 24 and is locked by a jam nut 43. In the construction of Fig. 5 it will be noted that the threaded engagement of the member and the extension 15 permits a vertical adjustment of the spindle 4 with respect to the table 2, whereby any relative vertical wear between these parts may be'compensated or whereby the elevation of the hub holders 30, 31 may be altered as desired to change the degree of offsetting of the hub 29.

In both devices, however, the table 2 allows a rapid mounting of the rims 28 in firm centered relation and a likewise rapid mounting of the hubs 29 on spindle 4. As these parts are thus secured in true concentricity and correct transverse planes, the operation of interlacing the wire spokes between the rim vand hub may be quickly accomplished. Due to the independent rotation of the spindle and table, furthermore, the hub and rim will readily assume a correct rotary adjustment as the spokes are tensioned therebetween, so that with the device a complete and finished spoke lacing is accomplished by the operator as a single step in the manufacture; that is to say, as mentioned hereinbefore, the hub and rim arefirmly maintained in true concentricity so that a further manufacturing step of truing may be eliminated or becomes,.at most, a matter of inspection rather than of skilled labor. j

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing fromv the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or Y shown in the accompanying drawings shalll be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device for concentrically holding'a wheel hub and rim, in combination, a rotatable support having a plurality of symmetrically arranged clamping'jaws to grip a wheel rim, and an axial support rotatable independently of said first mentioned support and having means to grip the wheel hub. f

2. ln a device for concentrically holding a wheel hub and rim while wire spokes are interconnected therebetween, in combination,l a rotatable support and a plurality of clamping jaws operable jointly to grip a wheel rim, and an axial support rotatable inde- 4 pendently of said first mentioned support and having means to releasably grip the wheel hub.

3. In a device for concentrically holding a wheel hub and rim while wire spokes are surfaces arranged concentrically whereby the concentricity of the gripping elements for the rim and hub is maintained in spite of wear of said bearing surfaces.

4. In a device for concentrically 4holding a wheel hub and rim while wire spokes are interconnected therebetween, in combination a rotatable support havin a plurality of symmetrically arranged c amping jaws to grip a wheel rim, and an axial support rotatable independently of said first mentioned support and having means to'grip the wheel hub, both of said supports having bearing surfaces arranged concentrically and against a common member whereby the concentricity of the gripping elements of the rim and hub is independent of the wear on said bearing surfaces. A

5. In apparatus of the character described, n

in combination, a supporting standard, a rotatable table journaled thereon and having a plurality of clamping jaws constructed and arranged for synchronous movement radial to said table and rotary movement with said table, and a central spindle journaled on said standard and rotatable independently of said tablet, said spindle having means to 4center and releasably to grip a wheel hub in combination, a supporting standard, aI

rotatable table journaled thereon and having a plurality of clamping jaws constructe and arranged for synchronous movement radial to said table and rotary movement with said table, a central spindle journaled on said standard and rotatable independently of said table, said spindle having means to center and releasably to grip a wheel hub thereon, and means whereb said table and spindle may be relatively adjusted vertically.

7. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supporting standard, a rotatable table journaled thereon and havinga plurality of clamping jaws constructed and arranged for synchronous movement radial to said table and rotary movement with said table, a central spindle journaled on said standard and rotatable independently of said table, said spindle having means to center and releasably to grip a ywheel hub thereon, and means whereby said spindle may be adjusted vertically with respect to said table.

8. In apparatus of the character described,

in combination, a supporting standard, a j

said table, connectin means between said table and said jaws 'w ereb rotation of one with respect to the other 1s permitted and effects relative radial movement of said jaws, and a central support to releasabl grip a wheel hubandl permit rotation of t e latter with respect to said jaws.

9. In apparatus of the character described, in combination, a supporting standard, a

rotatable table journaled thereon, elampln jaws arranged at intervals radial to sai I "table, connecting means comprising interit- 4relative radial movement of said jaws,l and is; ctntral support to releasably grip a wheel In testimonywhereof I aiix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. ASI-I.

Witnesses J. R. MA'rsoN H. E. VAN I-ORN. 

